The case for the Nuggets exploring a Roy Hibbert trade

Despite a drop in production during last season’s playoffs, Roy Hibbert remained plenty capable of blocking shots. (AJ Mast, the Associated Press)

About a year-and-a-half ago, the Indiana Pacers dialed the Nuggets up and proposed a center swap of JaVale McGee for Roy Hibbert.

For then Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri, it was a non-starter. Hibbert, to that point hadn’t shown much outside of not exactly living up to a big contract. And the Nuggets were enamored with the recently acquired McGee, whose athleticism was too tantalizing to deal away without seeing more.

It didn’t make sense then.

Would it now?

The logistics would have to work like this: A straight-up trade wouldn’t work because of the 125-percent-plus-$100,000 rule in the collective bargaining agreement. McGee is scheduled to make $11.25 million next season, while Hibbert is due $14.9 million, meaning the trade would fall something like $800,000 short of being an NBA-compliant deal. So, the Nuggets would have to add to it to make the deal work. And since the Pacers are suddenly in need of a starting-caliber small forward due to the recent unfortunate injury to Paul George, that would be a solid starting place for the Nuggets to add a player – or players – to the deal.

The Hibbert-is-being-shopped rumors have recently cropped up again as the Pacers apparently have grown weary of his inconsistent play. His ineffectiveness through much of last season’s playoffs grew into a beanstalk-sized storyline as the Pacers sloshed through the postseason before being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Miami Heat.

The trade benefit to Hibbert is simple: New scenery and a fresh start. And for the 7-footer, there couldn’t be a better spot to clear his mind and get back on track than with the Nuggets, whose coach, Brian Shaw, was an assistant with the Pacers. He’s worked closely with Hibbert, knows his game, and knows how to get the best out of him.

The benefit to the Nuggets would be in enhancing their defensive profile, while giving themselves a legitimate on-the-block scorer. Hibbert largely lost his scoring touch during last season’s playoffs, but he’s got a history of being effective when the ball is dumped into him in the post. The Nuggets are in need of a reliable post-scorer.

Defensively, he’d add a lot of what the Nuggets are missing. He’s in the right spots in defensive rotations. Hibbert perfected the verticality principle that Shaw desperately wanted his Nuggets bigs to learn last season; and he combines that with a high-level ability to block shots. Hibbert has averaged 2.2 blocked shots over the last three NBA seasons.

The Nuggets need a lot of what Hibbert could provide, and Shaw would be just the guy to get it out of him.

The Pacers would receive just what they were looking for when they approached the Nuggets about McGee – an active big man that blocks shots and runs the court like a gazelle. They have a need for youth and athleticism and McGee could provide both. Plus, the addition of a small forward – say, Wilson Chandler – that could plug in and help right away from a scoring and perimeter defense standpoint. Chandler’s contract, which isn’t fully guaranteed after the upcoming season, would give the Pacers some financial wiggle room should they need it.

And the Nuggets could take back a small forward in ex-CU standout Chris Copeland, if need be. A McGee-Chandler for Hibbert-Copeland trade is roughly $17 million going both ways. Copeland has proven he’s a capable scorer in the league, and his contract expires after next season. Hibbert has a trade kicker, which would be paid to him if he is dealt.

In a Western Conference with centers like Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Nikola Pekovic, DeMarcus Cousins, and Tyson Chandler, the Nuggets could shore up their own front line with an All-Defensive Team caliber player like Hibbert.

And in an NBA where little moves can play big dividends, this is one that could get the Nuggets closer to contending status.

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

No brainer in my book. McGee has done nothing but have a couple of nice games against the Lakers in the playoffs and can’t play legit D. Hibbert can play defense, which is the Nuggets greatest need. Losing Chandler would hurt defensively, for sure, but the Nugs need to improve their interior defense dramatically. Hibbert and Mozzy a very nice–and big and rugged–duo down low.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times.